Icologiq Knowledge · Standard

ISO/IEC 17025

The international standard specifying competence, impartiality and consistent-operation requirements for testing and calibration laboratories.

ISO/IEC 17025

Also known as:

ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 17025, laboratory competence standard

At a glance

Type

Standard

Topic

Laboratory Quality

Applies to

Food & Agriculture

Current version

ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Status

Current edition at last verification; confirmed in 2023

Last reviewed

September 29, 2026

Definition

ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard specifying general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories. It combines management-system and technical requirements so laboratories can demonstrate that their methods, people, equipment, records and controls support valid and reliable results.

Why it matters

ISO/IEC 17025 matters because laboratories need more than documented procedures: they must demonstrate technical competence and confidence in the results they produce. The standard connects competence, controlled methods, equipment and measurement traceability, records, audits, corrective action and ongoing assurance of result validity, and it is widely used as the basis for laboratory accreditation.

View term

The structured management of required skills, qualifications, training and evidence to ensure people are competent to perform assigned roles and activities.

Competence Management

Process

· Competence

View term

The process of ensuring that approved documents are current, traceable, accessible to the right people and protected against uncontrolled change or use.

Document Control

Process

· Document Control

View term

The coordinated planning, execution, reporting and follow-up of audits within a structured and traceable process.

Audit Management

Process

· Audit

View term

A structured process for addressing causes of actual or potential problems through corrective or preventive measures and verifying that actions are effective.

CAPA

Process

· CAPA & Incidents

View term

A formal process for proposing, assessing, approving, implementing and documenting changes that can affect quality, compliance, products or validated processes.